Blueberry plant named &#39;TOP SHELF&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Top Shelf’ is provided. ‘Top Shelf’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest market. The variety has jumbo-sized sky-blue fruit with excellent flavor. ‘Top Shelf’ ripens mid-season, approximately 2 to 3 weeks later than ‘Duke,’ and holds up well in storage trials. The plant is vigorous, with an upright, vase shaped growth habit, and has an estimated chilling requirement of 700 to 1,000 hours.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

LATIN NAME OF THE FAMILY, GENUS, AND SPECIES

Family-Ericaceae.

Genus-Vaccinium.

Species-corymbosum hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Top Shelf.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of northern highbush blueberry known as a Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid referred to as ‘Top Shelf,’ as herein described and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Top Shelf’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg. in 2007 ‘Top Shelf’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest market. The variety has jumbo-sized sky-blue fruit with excellent flavor. ‘Top Shelf’ ripens mid-season, approximately 2 to 3 weeks later than ‘Duke,’ and holds up well in storage trials. The plant is vigorous, with an upright vase shaped growth habit, and has an estimated chilling requirement of 700 to 1,000 hours.

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘Magnolia’ (female parent, unpatented) by ‘Draper’ (pollen parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,103). The new blueberry plant variety ‘Top Shelf’ has been planted in replicated trials since 2008.

The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Duke’ in that ‘Top Shelf’ ripens 2 to 3 weeks later and has larger fruit.

The new variety can be compared to the pollen parent ‘Draper’ in that ‘Top Shelf’ is more vigorous, has larger fruit and a more appealing flavor.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Top Shelf’ has maintained its distinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexual propagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproduced through softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones are phenotypically identical to the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Top Shelf’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Lowell, Oreg., and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘Top Shelf’:

1. Jumbo-sized fruit with excellent flavor.

2. Vigorous plant with upright, vase shaped growth habit.

3. Excellent performance in storage trials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘Top Shelf.’ The colors are a nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘Top Shelf,’ highlighting the plant's upright growth habit and vigorous nature.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘Top Shelf,’ highlighting the jumbo-sized berries.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘Top Shelf.’

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Top Shelf.’ The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately three years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

-   Classification: a. Family — Ericaceae. b. Genus — Vaccinium. c.     Species — corymbosum hybrid. d. Common Name — Highbush Blueberry. -   Parentage: Female Parent — Magnolia (unpatented). Male Parent —     Draper (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,103). -   Market class: ‘Top Shelf’ is a commercial blueberry variety intended     for the hand harvest market. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant size.—Medium. a. Height of Plant: Average of 34 inches             on 3 year old plants. b. Canopy Diameter: Average of 37             inches on 3 year old plants.         -   Growth habit.—Upright, vase shaped.         -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Twigginess.—Low.         -   Evergreenness.—Deciduous.         -   Suckering.—Low.         -   Chilling requirement.—Approximately 700 to 1000 hours.         -   Cold hardiness.—Approximately USDA zones 6-8.         -   Productivity in Lowell, Oreg.—a. 2 Year Old Plants: Average             of 3.4 lbs per plant, compared to 2.3 lbs per plant on             Draper plants of the same age. b. 3 Year Old Plants: Average             of 4.5 lbs per plant, compared to 4.1 lbs per plant on             Draper plants of the same age.         -   Propagation.—Easy to propagate from softwood cuttings.         -   Disease resistance/susceptibility.—a. Root rot (Phytophthora             cinnamomi) : Does not appear to be overly susceptible. b.             Stem Blight (Botryosphaeria spp): Undetermined. c. Phomopsis             Twig Blight (Phomopsis vaccinii): Does not appear to be             overly susceptible. d. Botryosphaeria Stem canker             (Botryosphaeria corticis): Undetermined. e. Bacterial Cane             Canker (Pseudomonas syringae): Does not appear to be overly             susceptible. f. Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea): Does not             appear to be overly susceptible. g. Leaf Spot (Septoria             spp.): Does not appear to be overly susceptible. h. Leaf             rust (Naohidemyces vaccinii): Does not appear to be overly             susceptible. i. Bud Mites (Acalatus vaccinii): Undetermined.         -   Survival.—Good. -   Trunk and branches:     -   -   Texture.—a. Surface Texture New Wood: Smooth. b. Surface             Texture 1 yr Wood: Smooth. c. Surface Texture 3 yr Wood:             Rough.         -   Color.—a. Color of New Wood: Pantone colors Sweet Pea             15-0531 and Chrysanthemum 17-1641 b. Color of Rough Bark at             1 year: Pantone colors Mineral red 17-1537 and Green Banana             14-0434. c. Color of Rough Bark 3 years: Pantone colors             Sesame 15-1215, Almond 16-1432, Mineral Red 17-1537. -   Foliage:     -   -   Internode length.—Average of 21.55 mm.         -   Leaf dimensions.—a. Leaf Length: Average of 73.6 mm. b. Leaf             Width: Average of 43.6 mm.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptical.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf color.—a. Upper Leaf Surface: Pantone color Chive             19-0323. Some leaves with a Brown stone 19-1322 accent. b.             Lower Leaf Surface: Pantone color Epsom 17-0324.         -   Pubescence.—a. Pubescence Upper Leaf Surface: Absent. b.             Pubescence Lower Leaf Surface: Absent. c. Pubescence Leaf             Margins: Absent.         -   Petiole.—a. Petiole length: Average of 3.71 mm. b. Petiole             color: Pantone color Moss 16-0532. c. Petiole surface             texture: Smooth.         -   Precocity.—In Lowell, Oreg. flower bud break occurs prior to             vegetative bud break. Flowers persist during initial             vegetative growth period. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Alternate arrangement.         -   Anther.—a. Anther length: Average of 4.54 mm. b. Anther             color: Pantone color Burnt Orange 16-1448.         -   Immature flower color.—Pantone colors Lilac Rose 17-2227 and             Snow white 11-0602.         -   Fragrance.—Faint.         -   Stigma location.—Average 0.31 mm below lip of corolla.         -   Flower shape.—Urceolate to cylindrical.         -   Pollen.—a. Pollen Staining: Approximately 95% viable,             Staining with 2% acetocarmine dye b. Pollen Abundance:             Medium. c. Pollen Color: Pantone color Pale Banana 12-0824.         -   Flower length.—Average of 12.38 mm.         -   Corolla.—a. Corolla Length: Average of 8.68 mm. b. Corolla             Diameter: Average of 8.21 mm. c. Corolla Aperture: Average             of 5.53 mm. d. Corolla Color: Pantone color Snow White             11-0602. e. Corolla Texture: Smooth.         -   Style length.—Average of 8.40 mm.         -   Calyx.—a. Calyx Diameter: Average of 5.60 mm. b. Calyx             Surface: Smooth. c. Calyx Color: Pantone color Spinach Green             16-0439, lobes Lettuce Green 13-0324 and Red Violet 17-1818.         -   Pistil color.—Pantone colors Peridot 17-0336 and Herbal             garden 15-0336.         -   Flower pedicel.—a. Pedicel Color: Pantone color Spinach             green 16-0439. b. Pedicel Length: Variable, average of 8 mm.         -   Flower peduncle.—a. Peduncle Color: Pantone colors Apple             green 15-0543 and Catchup 18-1449. b. Peduncle Length:             Average of 24.51 mm.         -   Flowering period.—Late April through late May in Lowell,             Oreg.         -   Flowering cluster.—Loose.         -   Number of flowers.—Average of 6-8 flowers per cluster.         -   Self-compatibility.—Good. On average 81% of self-pollinated             flowers reach maturity. -   Fruit:     -   -   Mean harvest date.—July 25.         -   Mean date last pick.—August 15.         -   Calyx.—a. Calyx Aperture: Average of 6.65 mm. b. Calyx             Lobes: 5 lobes, not well defined. c. Calyx Depth: Average of             2.11 mm. Pistils tend to remain on berries until after             harvest, when most fall off.         -   Berry cluster.—Moderately tight, does not misshape fruit.         -   Berry pedicel.—a. Pedicel Length: Average of 6.98 mm. b.             Pedicel Surface Texture: Smooth.         -   Berry peduncle.—a. Peduncle Length: Average of 21.37 mm. b.             Peduncle Surface Texture: Smooth.         -   Berries per cluster.—Average of 7 to 8 berries per cluster.         -   Berry detachment.—Easy.         -   Berry weight.—Average berry weight of 3.24 g, compared to             Draper plants of the same age, which have an average berry             weight of 2.58 g.         -   Berry height.—Average of 13.85 mm.         -   Berry width.—Average of 20.86 mm.         -   Berry shape.—Oblate.         -   Berry color.—a. Immature Berry Color: Pantone color Green             Olive 17-0535. b. Berry Skin Color on Plant: Pantone color             Lilac Grey 14-3903. c. Berry Skin Color after Harvest:             Pantone color Purple Cloud 16-3919. d. Berry Skin Color             after Polishing: Pantone color Dark Navy 19-0413.         -   Berry Wax.—Moderately heavy & moderately persistent.         -   Berry flesh color .—Pantone color Celery Green 13-0532.         -   Pedicel scar.—Average of 3.02 mm in diameter.         -   Berry firmness.—Very good. Average berry firmness             measurement for Top Shelf is 223 g/mm of deflection,             compared to Draper plants harvested on the same day, which             have an average of 223 g/mm of deflection, as measured by a             Firmtech fruit firmness testing machine.         -   Berry Flavor.—Mildly sweet.         -   Berry Texture.—Firm. -   Seeds:     -   -   Seed color.—Pantone color Mahogany 18-1425.         -   Seed length.—Average of 1.25 mm.         -   Seed width.—Average of 0.87 mm.         -   Seed weight.—Average of 0.2 mg.         -   Quantity seeds per berry.—Average of 58 seeds per berry 

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘Top Shelf,’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 